Etc. . . .

Serene Lodge bought the select sessions' top-priced yearling Wednesday at Australia's Magic Millions national yearling sale, paying about $318,250 for an Encosta de Lago filly consigned by Southern Cross Breeders. The auction's two select sessions grossed about $7,390,050 for 257 yearlings, an average price of about $28,755, a decline of 47 percent in local currency from last year, when the gross was 32 percent higher with 299 yearlings sold. . . . The director of racing and racing secretary at Fair Grounds, Sam Abbey, has resigned, the track announced Wednesday. Abbey had held the posts for the past two seasons.